Havenstein to focus on jobs, economic development

DOVER — Retired businessman Walt Havenstein said frustration with ObamaCare convinced him to run for governor, but if elected this fall, he promises to focus on job creation and economic development.

“What I bring to the table is the ability and track record of having created jobs,” the Alton resident seeking the GOP nomination said Thursday.

“What do I mean by that? I mean encouraging businesses into the state, knowing exactly what environment you need to have so that businesses are attracted to the state and then going and promoting the state as a place to do business,” he continued.

Havenstein, 65, met Thursday with the Foster’s Daily Democrat editorial board. He discussed his business background, his views on social issues such as gay marriage and abortion, his goals for office and why he’s ready to lead.

First and foremost, Havenstein is focused on jobs. He says New Hampshire must reduce the cost of doing business by lowering taxes and the cost of unemployment and health insurance.

“We’ve got to recognize that the total overhead structure for business in New Hampshire is too high,” he said, noting those costs rate high against other New England states.

“I think we should be best in class in that regard, and that sends a real strong message to businesses that are looking to relocate … to come to New Hampshire,” he said, adding that he favors this approach to attracting new businesses rather than offering incentives.

Havenstein moved to New Hampshire in 1999 to lead Sanders Associates, a Nashua defense contractor that was later acquired by BAE Systems. He was appointed CEO of BAE Systems in 2007, and in 2009, he was appointed CEO of Science Applications International Corp. He retired in 2012.

He also spent 28 years in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Havenstein is one of two Republicans running against first-term Gov. Maggie Hassan, an Exeter Democrat. Andrew Hemingway of Bristol is the other Republican candidate. The primary is Sept. 9.

Although he lacks legislative experience, Havenstein said executives must be deft politicians to balance competing agendas and succeed in large organizations.

He said the leadership qualities he developed in the business world are key to succeeding in the state’s corner office.

“It is not so simple as saying, here is what we are going to do,” he said. “You have to communicate, you have to be crystal clear, you have to create simplicity out of complexity and then get people aligned.”

Havenstein favors improving the Affordable Care Act over an outright repeal. However, he’s not sure how to go about achieving his desired fixes.

He also noted the law has some positives.

For instance, his son has a preexisting condition that could have made coverage difficult before the health law was passed. However, the same son’s policy was later canceled (then uncanceled) because it didn’t meet standards set under the law. His son has since taken a job that offered health insurance.

Havenstein said the governor could help improve the health law by encouraging more companies to participate in the state exchange. He also supports expanding exchanges across regional borders to increase competition.

Democrats have raised questions about Havenstein’s eligibility to run for governor, claiming that he accepted a tax break on a Maryland condo that was only available to residents.

Havenstein acknowledges owning a condo in Maryland for five years late in his career that he used while commuting to work in the Washington, D.C., suburbs. He said that while he registered a car and paid taxes in Maryland, he maintained his home in New Hampshire and voted here in elections.

He believes he’s eligible to run for governor. Candidates can’t officially file for governor until June.

Havenstein described himself as a “pro-choice Republican” but also supports “reasonable restrictions” on abortion such as parental notification.

However, it wasn’t clear if he supports abortion. Havenstein said he has very strong personal views, but would not choose to impose his views on others. He did not specifically say what his views were on the topic.

He took a similarly nuanced position on gay marriage. He described his support for gay marriage as a “personal belief” but would not say whether he would veto a bill repealing the state’s gay marriage law, which took effect in 2010.

Havenstein opposed the Legislature’s recent vote to raise the gas tax by 4 cents a gallon and opposes efforts to raise the minimum wage. He also opposes casino gambling and efforts to repeal the death penalty in New Hampshire. He is “undecided” on the Northern Pass proposal.

While describing himself as a “big fan” of the University of New Hampshire, Havenstein does not support additional state funding for the university. He also expressed concern that nearly 50 percent of UNH students come from another state.